This week the IRFU officially announced their Extended Squad for RBS 6 Nations and 02 Ireland Wolfhounds. During the 2013 season, Ireland endured there worst 6 Nations campaign in 14 years. Despite making a promising start with 40 minutes of top class rugby against Wales in their opening game, a lose of confidence and some surprising selections saw the Irish side lose their way in the championship.
The start of the 2013 campaign also saw the surprise announcement that Jamie Heaslip would take over as captain from the ever popular Brian O’Driscoll, a decision which undoubtedly backfired coupled with numerous injuries left the Irish sports fans wanting to forget the tournament completely,
But 2013 was not all doom and gloom for Ireland as they finished on a high which every Irish fan or not will remember as Ireland looked to secure a memorable victory over New Zealand only to be cruelly snatched away as the All Blacks scored in the final seconds of the game. Following the initial heartbreak of this game there was a glimmer of hope in every Irish fan that the performance had seen the Irish team return to world-class form and saw Munster’s Paul O’Connell regain the Irish captaincy.
The squad will look to bring the momentum and form from their last competitive game in Dublin, when they came within moments of toppling the the mighty New Zealand All Blacks, into 2014 and in 6 Nations tournament in particular. Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt explained:
“As always a number of the selections were very tight. Following on from the Guinness Series, there is an experienced core of players in the squad who will offer continuity, as well as some new additions who have been selected with an eye to the future.”
“With Robin Copeland returning to play in Ireland next season it will be an opportunity for him to impress during the training week, while some of the younger or less experienced players such as Rob Herring, Iain Henderson, Rhys Ruddock, Kieran Marmion and Felix Jones have turned in some very positive performances to earn spots in the squad.”
Ireland’s opening fixture of the Six Nations is against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, 2nd February. Reigning champions Wales visit Dublin six days later and Ireland then face a daunting trip to Twickenham to face a resurgent England on Saturday, 22nd February.
Italy make the trip to Ireland on Saturday, 8th March, for the hosts final home game of the Championship before the men in green travel to Paris to take on Philippe Saint-Andre’s typically unpredictable French side on Saturday, 15th March. Ireland’s three home games at the Aviva Stadium are sold out.
Ireland’s Extended 2014 RBS 6 Nations squad:
Backs:
- Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
- Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
- Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
- Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
- Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
- Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
- Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
- David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
- Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
- Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
- Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) *
- Luke Marshall (BallynahinchUlster)
- Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
- Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
- Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
- Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
- Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Forwards:
- Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) *
- Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
- Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
- Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *
- Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) *
- Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
- Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
- Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
- Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
- Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *
- David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
- Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
- Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
- Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
- Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) [Captain]
- Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
- Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
- Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
- Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
- Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
- Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
- Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
* Denotes uncapped player